Folding table leg clamping device



July 6, 1954 KlMMEL 2,683,069

FOLDING TABLE LEG CLAMPING DEVICE Filed July 24, 1953 INVENTOR. new/v5 K/MM-L,

Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE This invention relates to furniture, and more particularly to foldable leg structures for folding tables and the like. The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved foldable leg assembly for use with a folding table or the like, said assembly involving simple components, being easy to manipulate, and providin secure means for locking a leg in either a folded or an extended position with respect to the table surface or other body which it is intended to support.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved foldable leg structure for furniture, for example, for a folding table, said foldable leg structure involving inexpensive components, being rugged in construction, and being operable by simple manual manipulations to fold or unfold the leg structure, as desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view taken beneath the corner portion of a folding table provided with foldable leg structuresconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1 and showing the foldable leg assembly in bottom view.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

' Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the folding leg associated with the assembly of Figure 1 in folded position parallel to the table surface.

Referring to the drawing, II designates a conventional table top, for example, the top of a folding table, and I2 generally designates a foldable leg assembly according to the present invention secured beneath the corner portion of the table top. The foldable leg assembly comprises a channel member I3 having a generally U-shaped cross section said channel member being integrally formed with the parallel side wings I4, I4 and with the circular collar portion I5 at one end thereof. Integrally formed with the collar portion I5 is the generally triangular base flange I6, the flange It being secured to the undersurface of the table top I I by respective screws I I or similar fasteners extending through the respective corner portions of the triangular flange IB.

1 Claim, (01. 31199) As shown in Figure 1, the channel member I3 is thus secured to the bottom surface of the table top II in perpendicular relationship to said bottom surface. Designated at I! is a tubular leg which is slidably received in the channel member I3, the tubular leg being formed with the diametrically opposed longitudinal slots I8, I8 at its top portion through which extends a transverse rivet l9, said rivet extending through the opposingwing portions I4, I4 of the channel member I3, thus slidably connecting the leg I! to the channel member.

It will be noted from Figure 3 that the slots I8 are somewhat greater in length than the axial length of the collar member I5, whereby the leg I! may be moved downwardly from the position thereof shown in Figures 1 and 3 to disengage the end of the leg from the collar I5, and to allow the leg to be rotated ninety degrees to the position thereof shown in Figure 5, namely to a position wherein the leg I! is parallel to th table top II, the end of the leg extending through the aperture defined above the bight portion of the channel member I 3 between the straight side Wings I 4, I4. As shown in Figure 5, said aperture is slightly greater in height than the diameter of the leg, whereby the leg may be readily rotated to the position shown in Figure 5, and whereby the leg I! may be then locked in this position by moving the leg to the right, as viewed in Figure 5, whereby the end of thelegprojects laterally beyond the external surface of the bight portion of the channel member I3 and islockingly engaged with the channel member through the aperture between the wings I4, I4 to support the'leg againstdropping downwardly from the position shown in Figure 5.

To move the leg to its extended uprighted position, it is necessary to slide the leg to the left, as viewed in Figure 5, until the transverse pin element I9 engaged the right ends of the slots I 8, I3, whereupon the leg I! may be swung counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 5, to a position in axial alignment with the collar element I5 and in sliding engagement with the bight portion of the channel member I3. The leg I! may then be moved upwardly to engage its end in the socket defined by the collar element I5, whereby the leg is locked in its perpendicular position with respect to the table top I I.

It will be understood that the table is provided with foldable leg assemblies, as above described, at each of its corners, whereby the table will be supported in the usual manner when the legs have been all extended to their perpendicular positions with respect to the table top. It will be further understood that the legs may be readily folded in the manner above described, when it is desired to fold the table.

While a specific embodiment of an improved foldable leg assembly for furniture has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art;- Thus it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A foldable leg assembly comprising a horizontal base flange adapted to be secured'to ahorizon tal table surface; a cylindrical socket vertically depending from said flange; a pair of parallel side wings vertically dependingfrom said socket member, said side wings having aligned apertures centrally thereof; a U-shaped channel vertically depending, from said side wings; said flange, socket, side wings and channel slidably receiving therein a cylindrical leg, said leg'being formed with a longitudinally extending slot near the top thereof; and a transverse pin element secured in the apertures in said side wings and extending through said slot, said slot being positioned on said leg so that said leg, when in extended vertical position extends into said socket in looking relation, and when in folded horizontal position said leg extends through said side wings in locking relation, said leg being shiftable? out of locking relationtbymovement longitudinally-of said-leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNI-T13113 STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1 ,03'9','86'8" Whitney Oct. 1, 1912 1,245,811 Smock Nov. 6, 1917 1,917,916 Bales et al. July 11, 1933 221%;049 Frocier Jan. 17, 1939 2,606,802 Inpyn -i Aug. 12, 1952 216255454; Brown Jan. 13,1953 

